Hungary Facts

Information about Hungary

Hungary's thousand years of history is only one intriguing aspect of this country in East Central Europe. Influences from other countries, the unique characteristics of the Hungarian language and regional traditions and culture contribute to its complexity. A single short visit to Hungary is insufficient for a thorough understanding of its various features, but basic facts can act as an introduction into the most important information about this country, its people, and its history.

Information about getting to and getting around Hungary is also useful if you're considering paying a visit.

Basic Hungary Facts

Population: 10,005,000Location: Hungary is landlocked in Europe and borders seven countries – Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Croatia. The Danube river divides the country and the capital Budapest, once known as two separate cities, Buda and Pest.

Language and Alphabet: Hungarians speak Hungarian, although they call it Magyar. Hungarian has more in common with Finnish and Estonian than the Indo-European languages spoken by neighboring countries. Though Hungarians used a rune script for their alphabet in days gone by, they now use a modern Latin alphabet.

Religion: Hungary is a mostly Christian nation with many different denominations of Christianity making up 74.4% of the population. The largest minority religion is "none" at 14.5%.

Major Attractions in Hungary

Budapest is Hungary's top destination city. This sprawling city maintains the regal look given to it towards the end of the 19th century. With plenty of restaurants, bars, museums, spas, and other attractions, Budapest never leaves visitors bored.

Hungary Travel Facts

Visa Information: Citizens of the EU or EEA do not require a visa for visits under 90 days but must have a valid passport.

Airport: Five international airports serve Hungary. Most travelers will arrive in Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD), colloquially known as Ferihegy. An airport bus leaves every 10 minutes from the airport and allows for a connection to the city center via the metro or another bus. A train from terminal 1 takes travelers to Budapest Nyugati pályaudvar - one of the 3 main rail stations in Budapest.

Trains: There are 3 major train stations in Budapest: East, West, and South. The West train station, Budapest Nyugati pályaudvar, connects to the airport, while the East train station, Budapest Keleti pályaudvar, is where all international trains depart or arrive. Sleeper cars are available to several other countries and are regarded as safe.

Hungary History and Culture Facts

History:Hungary was a kingdom for a thousand years and was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During the 20th century it was under a Communist government until 1989, when a parliament was established. Today, Hungary is a parliamentary republic, though the long existence of its kingdom, and the powers of its rulers, is still fondly remembered.